2 rivals the Orioles should be worried about after Winter Meetings moves

Winter Meetings are something that many MLB fans look forward to every year. Teams make moves to either better their position for the coming season or to set themselves in a better position further down the road. The Baltimore Orioles have made a few moves in recent years, signing Kyle Gibson in 2022 and Craig Kimbrel in 2023, leading some optimistic Bird fans to believe that the Orioles would make a big splash to get over the playoff hump.

The O's made a splash alright and addressed some needs by signing Tyler O'Neill and Gary Sanchez, two right handed power hitters that fill the outfield and backup catcher vacancies. However, they failed to sign any pitcher to address the holes left by Corbin Burnes, Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb. To make matters worse, one of the starters the O's were rumored to be trying to sign, Max Fried, signed with a division rival.

The New York Yankees reportedly offered Juan Soto a $760 million contract before he signed with the New York Mets. O's fans were relieved to see Soto no longer in the division but that left the Yankees holding an enormous pile of cash. They used a significant part of the pile to steal Fried right out from under our noses. Fried is joining a rotation that already includes 2023 Cy Young winner Gerritt Cole, reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, not to mention two time all-star Carlos Rodon who had a bounce back season with 16 wins in 2024.

The addition of Fried gives the Yankees one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball, but they weren't done yet. They went out and grabbed one of the top closers in baseball when they made a trade with the Brewers for Devin Williams. It cost them Nestor Cortes, who's spot in the rotation was already filled by Fried, and an infield prospect. Clay Holmes fell apart in the second half and lost his job, leaving a hole at closer for the Yanks. Williams has been one of the game's top late-inning relievers for half a decade and will solidify the back end of the Yankees bullpen.

Speaking of Yankee closers, the Boston Red Sox made a move to improve their bullpen when they signed former Yankee closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman may not be the fireballer he once was but he still posted 14 saves for the Pirates in 2024 while pitching 61.2 innings, his most since 2015. The big move the Red Sox made was trading for Garrett Crochet.

Their are many reasons that this move could backfire on them, but the Sox decided to roll the dice on the 2024 breakout star. Crochet's move to the starting rotation seemed to unleash his true talent as he surprised everyone all season long. He will now likely headline a Red Sox rotation that has a ton of potential in guys like Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock. They should also get Lucas Giolito back from Tommy John surgery next season.

Being division opponents will give the Orioles many opportunities to face the new weapons acquired by the Yankees and Red Sox. The pennant race went down to the wire last season and it could happen again next season. The Birds play the Yankees in seven of their final 10 games of the season so they will see Fried in at least one of those contests and Williams in who knows how many.

The offseason is far from over and there are several big names still on the market either as free agents or for trade. Orioles fans should still hold onto that hope that this new ownership will allow Mike Elias to do what's necessary to not only return to the playoffs, but go the next step in 2025.